RIYADH — The Ministry of Culture announced its launch of the first electronic platform to teach Arabic calligraphy and Islamic decoration, with support from the Quality of Life Program, one of the programs of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, under the title “Alkhattat Platform” (Calligrapher Platform) https://www.alkhattat.net, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday. The electronic platform will be supervised by a group of professional calligraphers from the Kingdom and the Arab world. Through the platform, they will teach the basics of Arabic calligraphy, its arts and methods via training courses, projects and professional workshops. The “Calligrapher Platform” is one of the initiatives that have won support from the Ministry of Culture in the “Year of Arabic Calligraphy” initiative. It will provide those interested in learning Arabic calligraphy and Islamic decoration an opportunity to get quality lessons by professionals and specialists. The platform will give the trainee the option to choose the calligraphy he wishes to learn and the calligrapher he prefers to be his instructor. During the training period, the trainee will be provided with applications and exercises through which he will gain the artistic skills he wishes to learn. The platform offers various training courses, including professional courses in the types of Arabic calligraphy, explanation of the alphabets and how to combine them, writing the words and expressions, improving handwriting, training in making calligraphic paintings and artwork in Arabic calligraphy, letter formations, gilding, Islamic decoration, drawing and coloring, the art of paper marbling and Ebru (needle art). The platform will also give the trainee the opportunity to develop Arabic computer fonts by learning designs and programming fonts. The Ministry of Culture’s support for this platform as part of its celebration of Arabic calligraphy, its history and symbols and under the “Year of Arabic Calligraphy” initiative, which contains various activities and events during the years 2020 and 2021. They include quality initiatives to serve Arabic calligraphy and celebrate its arts, in cooperation with individuals, official authorities and private entities that are concerned and enthusiastic about this deep-rooted Arabic art that has a cultural value as the conveyor and protector of Arabic culture and its lofty artistic status. high artistic status. — SG